Am I the only one who is happy to be taking letrozole? I have been taking it for just over 2 weeks and I don’t have any side effects apart from a few hot flushes in the evenings. After seeing so many horror stories and complaints from lots of people who are unfortunately experiencing some pretty awful side effects, it leaves me wondering if I’m either abnormal, it hasn’t kicked in yet or it’s not working properly for me. I don’t want to minimise anyone’s feelings because I honestly wouldn’t wish the side effects on any of us, however I feel guilty for being ok. Am I the only one who feels this way?
4 Likes
Hi @bobcat1 Ive been taking letrozole since December and so far I’ve not had any real issues either. I’ve had a couple of hot flushes at night but didn’t last long. I have noticed that my eyebrows thin a little for a while and then come in again (I don’t want to lose them again so hoping this is temporary). I also get sore joints but I think that is from the abemaciclib rather than letrozole. Fingers crossed it stays this way!
1 Like
Hi @bobcat1
I’m only 3 weeks into taking Letrozole, so assuming it’s too early for side effects to have kicked in. I was taken off HRT at Christmas so was really struggling with sleep before starting Letrozole. It seems to increased the hot flushes, especially at night, which means I wake up more than before and take longer to get back to sleep, but so far not much else has happened. Fingers crossed!
This is good to know. I’m due to take abemaciclib too eventually so fingers crossed that will be ok for me too. Thank you x
1 Like
I was on HRT for about a year, also mostly because I had severe fatigue and couldn’t sleep. It was stopped in September 2025 when I was diagnosed but to be honest he HRT wasnt helping much as I think most of the insomnia was from work stress and the fatigue was a thyroid problem (which is now solved due to specific treatment for that). I haven’t noticed the letrozole affect my sleep too much…..yet!
1 Like
This is really encouraging to read so thank you for sharing! I’m due to start it shortly & still have awful hot flashes anyway after finishing hrt when diagnosed back in September-my fear is they could get much worse but if they’re already bad maybe I’ll be ok?!
3 Likes
Wishing it goes well for you x
1 Like
Hi @bobcat1 and @fione I have been on Letrazole for about 15 months and on Abemaciclib for a year. I had quite a lot of neck, shoulder and back pain - I did have this to a certain extent before diagnosis but it definitely got worse. About 5 months ago my Abemaciclib dose was reduced to 100mgs and this definitely helped to reduce the pain, so that’s something that’s worth you keeping in mind if you need it.
I was post menopausal by about 15 years when I was diagnosed and had never had hrt. I’ve not had any hot flushes or night sweats since taking Letrazole. I had post menopausal vaginal atrophy, treated with vaginal oestrogen cream. This returned with a vengeance when I stopped the oestrogen on diagnosis so after discussions with the oncologist and a gynaecologist specialising in menopause after cancer, I have restarted the oestrogen.
I hope you all get on OK with your new treatments.
1 Like
I’m on my 5th mo th of Letrozol and I’m doing ok. Occasional hot flushes and I did have quite achy joints but I’ve felt much less achy since being on a different brand. I’ve also done my first cycle of Ribociclib and not had any adverse effects from that either. 
2 Likes
Thank you, it’s good to hear some positive experiences x
2 Likes
I know what you mean about feeling guilty. I’ve been on letrozole for over three and a half years and don’t seem to have had any side effects. I’m very grateful for this drug and send best wishes to everybody taking it.
3 Likes
Definitely good to hear positive experience of Letrozole. I’m due to be changed on to it from Tamoxifen. Just had the first Zoladex injection.
I have been taking Letrozole for 6 months. I was really scared to start it. But as someone on the forums said, you tend to hear the horror stories rather than the ones where things are fine. I waited till I had finished all other treatments before I started it. I also took note of how I felt before starting as I didn’t want to attribute symptoms I already had to the drug but also be able to identify any changes. . I had poor sleep, some hair loss and hot flushes post menopause and an achy knee anyway. The hot flushes maybe increased but have settled down and I feel completely normal. I have also had 3 different manufacturers versions and haven’t noticed any difference. I’ve looked at the ingredients and they seem identical, as they should be I suppose. My only concern is my bone density. I take a calcium supplement daily and will ensure this is monitored. So all good. Best wishes to everyone
2 Likes
Hi.
I’ve been talking Letrazole for two years now and take mine before bed.
I do get night sweats but can manage those okay
Joint pain seems to have flare-ups and I have had a couple of scans when I started with new severe bone pain. That had now disappeared!
A good mattress topper has helped the joint pain.
The most difficult side effect for me is the weight gain.
I am a healthy eater and haven’t changed my diet but I’m almost a stone heavier and I really can’t shift it. But it’s a small price to pay in the whole scheme of things.
2 Likes
I started letrozole in January and found the side effects developed gradually, by March I had mild joint issues, the hot flushes, a bit of insomnia and nausea. I now take my tablet after breakfast and the nausea has reduced enough. The joint issues and sleep disturbances have increased since March, but I still think it’s manageable for me if it stabilises at this point. I already had a chronic fatigue condition before breast cancer (endometriosis) so the disturbed sleep has made that worse but I was expecting that and I should imagine if you don’t have an underlying condition like that then it might be easier to cope with. Overall I think it will be do-able for me for the long term, and I’m grateful for the drug, I think I was told the hormone treatments are the most important adjuvant treatment for ER+ BC. I hope you continue to feel as well as you do on it and can get on with whatever brings you joy in your life xx
2 Likes
Hi i been taking it for 5 months and I have not much either sometimes hot and sometimes joint pain so glad about that and can keep taking it for as as needed 
1 Like
I was on letrozole and palbociclib for nearly 1 year. Very few side effects apart from manageable ones, hot flushes and a bit of joint aching but would rather that any day over cancer so I would say it was eminently manageable. Best of luck with it. Some people have been on it for decades so fingers crossed for you 
1 Like
Good luck with it. It will be great if it doesn’t affect your joints like it does mine. 
Early days ladies, early days. I had five years on letrozole and didn’t notice much at first but I am left with permanent life-changing side-effects. Without going into gruesome details, let’s just say that my lovely husband and I are no longer able to be sexually active 
2 Likes
Hi. I’m only on my 2nd week of taking letrozole and I think it’s far too early to know whether I’ll experience side effects. I was already having hot flushes from stopping HRT in March after 30 years of taking it (due to hysterectomy). I was REALLY worried that Letrozole would hit me like a ton of bricks and my GP phoned me to tell me that a drug called Fezolinetant, which was previously only available privately, was now available on the NHS. It’s prescribed for ladies who are unable to take HRT to help alleviate symptoms of menopause, particularly severe hot flushes. I spoke to my breast care nurse who said it was OK for me to take alongside Letrozole as it’s listed in the Cancer and Menopause website. I’ve been taking that alongside Letrozole and I’m currently only having 1 or 2 hot flushes per day and none at night which is a big improvement. Just keeping my fingers crossed! Good luck everyone x
3 Likes